Posted on 10/24/2005 5:31:40 PM PDT by crazyhorse691
A new report shows the Northwest must change with its warming climate or its economy will wither Monday, October 24, 2005
T he Republicans in the Legislature who keep fighting emission controls to slow global warming continually say they are just trying to look out for Oregon businesses and the state's economy.
A new report by more than 50 Northwest economists shatters that argument. The report argues that unchecked global warming poses an imminent threat to Oregon's $121 billion economy. If you care about jobs, the economists say, you better care about climate change.
Temperature increases, rising sea levels and altered rain and snow patterns are already affecting Oregon's agriculture, forestry, tourism and hydroelectric industries. That's 25 percent of the state's economy. Most of the effects fall on rural areas -- Central and Eastern Oregon, the coast -- represented by the lawmakers who have most strongly resisted efforts to curtail greenhouse gas emissions.
The water content in the snowpack in the Cascades is falling. Sea levels are slowly rising, and will edge higher, threatening coastal developments. The forest products industry will battle more drought, fire and insect infestations. Farmers will face water shortages, rising temperatures and changes in growing seasons. Power costs will jump as reduced streamflows crimp electricity production.
These are all bottom-line issues for Oregon business. They are not what-if scenarios. More than four dozen scientists, the most respected climate-change experts in the region, last year said they were "very certain" the Northwest is warming and is likely to warm three times as fast by midcentury.
So it is no longer "good for business," if it ever was, to ignore climate change. The economists' report shows the wisdom of Gov. Ted Kulongoski's effort to adopt California's tough emission standards for motor vehicles. It also shows the folly of the Legislature's decision to kill a proposal to expand biodiesel production in Oregon.
The emission controls and the biodiesel bill are precisely the kind of steps Oregon should be taking, the economists say. In an open letter to the state's top decision makers, including Kulongoski, they urge the state to address global warming in three broad ways.
First, the state should move strongly to reduce emissions of the pollutants associated with global warming. Second, the state should begin preparing for the impact of higher temperatures and rising sea levels on the state's energy systems, water supplies, salmon, forests, farms and coastal development.
Third, Oregon should take advantage of new economic opportunities associated with warming. That means investing more in energy efficiency, renewable power and other clean technologies. That includes biodiesel, which would create a lucrative new seed crop for farmers, family-wage jobs at biodiesel facilities and an environmentally benign fuel for motorists.
It is now clear that that denying the reality of global warming and pretending that change is unnecessary, or "bad for business," is a dead-end policy. The region's top economists are absolutely right: The future of the Northwest depends on creativity, innovation and aggressive action to confront climate change.
Who posted the association between declining number of pirates and global warming? One of the Freepers had a hilarious graph that I would like to use.
State pop. is I believe a little over 3 million. But, you see they would be linked with similar laws in Calif. and Wa. and BC and Hawaii. A virtual tidal wave of retreating ocean levels pointing the way to a Utopia of socialism would ensue.
4 scenarios;
1) the natural temperature of the earth is static and man is making it go higher
2) the natural temperature of the earth is warming and man is the causing it to be worse
3) the natural temperature of the earth is cooling and man is preventing an ICE AGE
4) the natural temperature of the earth is warming and man has virtually NOTHING to do with it.
I bet 4 is most likely but nobody can prove the difference between the other three.
Bullshit! A new report by (shudder) 50 economists disputes, but does not shatter any argument. As the old saying goes, put two economists together and you'll get six opinions, none right.
"50 Northwest economists",.....
Oregon, Seattle,.....etc,....well, it must be true then.
Exactly.
The planet goes through heating and cooling cycles.
There were more than one ice age long before the first SUV rolled of the assembly line.
That was my first thought, as well. I'll bet they can't all agree on what the business volume was LAST YEAR, much less NEXT year.
According to the chart, this will take my HP from the 185 stock to about 300. (Hope I don't burn a piston or melt a valve, but this engine has 170k on it anyway....)
But then all humans will die and the problem will be solved! 8^)
Oregon implements all these restrictions, Washington doesn't.
Whichever state is left standing in 10 years wins.
$121 billion dollar economy? I knew there were a lot of motels in Oregon, but...
Back in the 70's the prediction was that increasing CO2 would trigger an iceage. The biggest proponent of this bunk is now a leading advocate of global warming. These people hate modern civilization, democracy, and freedom.
Ah yes......nothing like the clatter of a cold diesel in the morning. Hell, I think I'll fire up my Ford Excursion, 6.0L Turbo Diesel and drive it around the block for fun. Gotta do my part for global warming you know....it's supposed to be 35 here tonight, with 3-6 inches of snow in the ridges to the east of Pittsburgh....a very cold night and a very early snow for this part of the US. Damn that global warming!
Huh? As opposed to snow with a low water content? What makes up the rest of it if not water?
It must be all that CO2 forming dry ice.
I'm doing my part, I don't read the Oregonian.
It's whichever occurs. Global warming is used to predict every possible outcome so that whatever happens global warming is confirmed. This is the "new science."
My son DVR'd a truly funny South Park episode on Global warming and the recent floods last week for me.
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